Living Responsibly in Tallahassee 

living responsibly photo

Moving to a new apartment in a new city is incredibly exciting! The opportunities are endless with a wealth of fresh activities to explore, friendships to make, and personal growth to experience. Whether you’re still scoping out Tallahassee or if you’ve officially decided it’s the place for you, there are a few things you should consider as a responsible member of the community. Moving to a new place can bring unfamiliar experiences and laws. As a citizen and as a student, it’s important that you know your rights and know what you’re responsible for.

Florida Law for College Students

Pumphrey Law Tallahassee Criminal Defense Attorney provides an e-book resource for college students with general information to help students gain a better understanding of legal situations that can potentially occur while at college. You can download the e-book below!

Download the e-book

Topics Covered by Pumphrey Law:

  • What to do if you get pulled over: “Have your registration, proof of insurance, and your driver’s license neatly together (not crumpled in a wad of confusion), and hold them outside the window, awaiting the officer. This shows the officer you are prepared and showing compliance. Stay in your vehicle.”

  • Driving under the influence: “The first DUI conviction is charged as a first -degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. A first DUI conviction may include up to 50 hours of community service, up to one year of probation, and mandatory vehicle impoundment.”

  • Your right to remain silent: “The last thing you want to do if you are under investigation is incriminate yourself, even if you are innocent. If you are under investigation for committing a crime, seek out the services of a qualified criminal defense attorney before you make a statement or answer any questions.”

  • Sexual assault: “If you are accused of sexual assault by your school, the first thing you need to do is get a lawyer.”

  • Fake ID's: “You may think being under age 21 and having a fake ID is just a rite of passage. Everyone does it, right? Wrong.”

  • Hazing accusations: “Florida Section 1006.63 defines hazing as an action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.”

  • Drug use: “Although states throughout the country have amended their laws regarding marijuana, Florida’s marijuana laws remain particularly harsh. Charges and convictions can lead to severe punishments, including both criminal punishments and additional indirect consequences.”

  • Student rights on campus: “Don’t fall prey to the myth of expungement. Unless you have a court order issued in civil court, it’s on your record.”


For situations that are not urgent and non-life threatening please call the Tallahassee Non-Emergency line at (850) 606-5800

In the case of a life threatening emergency, always call 911.


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